There’s a certain carefree alt-rock swing to SLOWDIM’S “Wishing Well (Reverb Mix)” that suggests it could have been a lost sonic relic off the 1993 No Alternative compilation, tucked somewhere in the track listing among fuzzy contributions by Matthew Sweet, Buffalo Tom, and the Verlaines. Instead, the reverb mix of “Wishing Well” is the standout selection off February’s Spirals EP, Slowdim’s debut record that merges intelligent, ambient indie-pop with the noisy makeup of its members’ other affiliations (This Car Up, 28 Degrees Taurus).

Have you ever danced with El Diablo on the corner of an eight ball? Driven through a bean field wearing nothing but a boombox made of magic? If not, then the new four-track Latin-dicked BSTRD Boots 12-inch from Flavorheard subsidiary the WHISKEY BARONS is your chance to surf South American mountaintops in a flamingo-pink Delorean.

Throwed’s E-Marce teams up with man-about-town Texas Mike for this cleverly named Top 40/electro/party-jams night. The launch also features an ’80s theme, complete with a live Journey cover band — excuse us, tribute band. Whatever, we’re there for the $5 Cape Codders as if we were Steff in Pretty in Pink

Berlin-based techno diva Bloody Mary claims that her album Black Pearlwas inspired by Charles Baudelaire. Whether that's like an indie band citing Oscar Wilde as an influence remains to be seen, but either way, this self-professed decadence seems suited for the fleurs du mal of Make It New’s dance floor.

THURSDAY 07.15
| MAKE IT NEW
@ Middlesex Lounge |
Make It New has been off the chain lately, with international guest DJs Michael Mayer, Dan Bell, and Efdemin beat-bombing the sleek weekly techno party. But summer is all about the residents, and this week, DJ Volvox and her dark blend of tech house lead the charge with familiar faces Alan Manzi and DJezus.

FRIDAY
07.02 | MANUEL DE
LA MARE @ Rise | Last time an Italian DJ came to town, Pauly D left
behind a sticky mix of Axe and Ice Spiker. So Italy's
own (like, real Italy) Manuel
de la Mare, who must be pissed at his country's showing in the World Cup, has
something to prove. And the DJ/producer and Beatport Top 10 mainstay has a
versatile mix of deep house and techno perfect for all-night ragers.

If you haven’t hit up one of ZuZu’s Queer Tuesday parties, consider this very special Pride installment of Nu Life as the dopest primer possible. The whole crew’s here: JustinCredible, D’Hana, Leah V, Rizzla, and V-Nice. Plus a bonus birthday set by BRDR for his BF — all together now: “Awwww .

Pachanga is really just another way of saying "big crazy
party" (among other less savory things, according to Urban Dictionary). For
now, let's just say it's the best Latin party in Cambridge. Expect salsa, reggae, merengue,
and whatever gets the room moving.

FRIDAY 04.16 | DENNIS
FERRER @
Underbar | If you ditched the cold and hit this year's Winter Music
Conference in Miami,
there's a good chance you had your ass taken over by "Hey Hey" - the addictively bouncy and
welcomely ubiquitous breakout hit from Dennis Ferrer. See what else the man can
take hold of when he hits Underbar this Friday.

FRIDAY 03.19 | DJ ILGIN @
Underbar | At Underbar, see what they get busy to in Istanbul. Turkey's #1 lady of the decks, DJ Ilgin, follows
her month-long US tour to Boston for a night.
Expect rich, thick, electric funky house realness. And cologne.

VIDEO: Joel Roston does the Church's "Under The Milky Way" live at ZuZu

A few months ago, there was talk that ZuZu, the Middle East’s slightly swankier lounge, would stop hosting live music in favor of more DJ-centric music nights, like Solid! and the always-popular Soul-le-lu-jah. This hasn’t proved to be the case, I’m glad to report.